Underslung leg-rest for reclining chair



A ril 23, 1963 SCHLIEPHACKE 3,035,816

UNDERSLUNG LEG-REST FOR RECLINING CHAIR Filed Nov. 1, 1960 IN VEN TOR. FIQIDT/OF E \SCHL/E'PHACKE' iinited rates spasms UNDERSLUNG LEG-REST FUR RECLINING CHAIR Fridtjof F Schliephacire, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Nov. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 66,489 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-89) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs having an underslung type of leg-rest which, in its retracted position, folds inwardly to a position parallel to and close to the lower surface of the seat, and in particular relates to a new and improved linkage for actuating such type of underslung leg-rest.

eg-rest arrangements of the underslung type are customarily employed in reclining chairs of the type having a rigid seat and back-rest and in which the seat is raised well above the floor surface by high legs. Styling requirements for such type of chair presently require open framework sides mounted on relatively long legs of narrow diameter with an open space between the bottom of the seat and the fioor surface. Because of such open framework, it is necessary for esthetic reasons to conceal the leg-rest in its retracted position so that the chair will have the appearance of a normal well styled chair in its upright sitting position, and the leg-rest therefore must be so mounted that in its retracted position it is closely spaced from the bottom surface of the seat and is maintained substantially parallel thereto. The leg-rest linkage must also be so arranged and must be of such construction that in the upright sitting position of the chair it is collapsed or folded into an extremely compact form with the links thereof closely spaced from each other and hidden by the chair framework.

A problem encountered in the construction of the chair of the aforementioned type is concerned with moving the leg-rest from its retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat. In this movement, the leg-rest must be swung through an angle of approximately 180, from an inverted horizontal position beneath the seat to an upright horizontal position forwardly of the seat. This requires a relatively long path of travel of the leg-rest in response to a short path of travel of the body supporting unit of the chair. The linkage must therefore be so constructed as to provide an accelerated movement of the leg-rest in response to a slight movement of the body-supporting unit.

Another problem inherent in the construction of reclining chairs of the aforementioned type is occasioned by the necessity of spacing the extended leg-rest Well forwardly of the leading edge of the seat and in the proper position to support the legs of the occupant. For this purpose, the links of the leg-rest linkage must be of rather long dimension, and yet the leg-rest linkage must be so constructed that these long links are folded into a suhiciently compact arrangement as to be hidden from view by the chair open framework in the upright position of the body-supporting unit. It is also apparent that links of large size raise the problem of controlling the linkage movement in such a manner that the links and the leg-rest do not strike the floor when the leg-rest is moved from its underslung position to its extended position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a leg-rest linkage for reclining chairs of the type described which overcomes the aforementioned problems in an effective and economical manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of the leg-rest linkage of the character described in which a novel link arrangement is employed for providing a long path of movement of the leg-rest in response to a relatively short path of movement of the body-supporting means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a leg-rest linkage of the character described in which the links are so arranged as to move the leg-rest to an extended position in which it is spaced well forwardly from the front end of the seat, and in which such links are also arranged to be folded up into a very compact form in the upright sitting position of the body supporting unit when the leg-rest is in its retracted underslung position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a leg-rest linkage of the character described which is particularly adapted for use in chairs having modern styling features including an open frame, high legs, and the like.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on the support for movement relative thereto, a leg-rest and an actuating and mounting mechanism for moving the leg-rest from an inverted and retracted underslung position beneath the seat to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat. The actuating and mounting mechanism includes a driver link which is pivotally mounted on the support at a first pivotal mount. Means including a seat connecting link pivotally connect the driver link to the body-supporting means for movement in response to movement of the body-supporting means relative to the support. A follower link is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the driver link and is pivotally connected via at least a leg-rest connecting link at the other of its ends to the leg-rest. A driven link is pivotally mounted on the support at a third pivotal mount and is pivotally connected to the follower link intermediate the ends of the latter. The mounting arrangement is completed by a pair of links which are pivotally connected to each other and t0 the support and leg-rest. The several links are arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of the follower link and the leg-rest through an angle of approximately such that the leg-rest moves into the extended and elevated leg-supporting position as the body-supporting means moves into a reclining position.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of an improved reclining chair embodying the leg-rest actuating and mounting linkage of the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright or sitting position; and,

' FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, showing the chair in a rearwardly tilted position, with the leg-rest linkage extended and the leg-rest in its elevated leg-supporting position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair of the type in which an improved leg-rest and actuating mechanism illustrative of the present invention is to be incorporated. The chair, generally designated by the reference numeral 19, includes a support or frame 12 which has opposed side frames 14 intercon- 'nected by appropriate cross braces 16, 18 and supported latter.

body-supporting unit 22 which is mounted by an appropriate bracket 30 on the chair frame or support 12.

The chair further includes a leg-rest 32 which is disposed beneath the seat 24 and which is carried by a legrest mounting and actuating arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 34. The styling of the chair requires that the leg-rest 32 be disposed in an inverted and retracted underslung position substantially parallel to and spaced below the seat 24 of the bodysupporting unit 22 and hidden from view by the lower portions of the side frames 14 of the chair support or frame 12. Accordingly, the leg-rest mounting and actuating linkage 34 in the retracted position of the legrest 32 illustrated in FIG. 1 is collapsed to a very compact condition in which the links thereof are closely folded together and located closely beneath the seat 24 wherein the links are hidden from view.

The leg-rest mounting and actuating linkage 34 includes a driver link 36 which is downwardly and forwardly inclined from its upper end to its lower end when the bodysupporting unit 22 is in the sitting position. At its upper end, the driver link 36 has a pivotal mount 38 on the support. Provision is made for turning the driver link 36 at a substantially uniform rate in the clockwise direction about the first pivotal mount 38 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit or means 22 from the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 through the various reclining or tilted back positions to the fully reclined or tilted back position illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically, a seat connecting link 49 is provided which has a pivotal connection 42 at its upper end to the seat 24 of the body-supporting means 22 and a pivotal connection 44 at its lower end to the driver link 36 intermediate the ends of the latter.

A follower link 46 extends rearwardly from the lower end of the driver link 36 when the chair is in the sitting position of FIG. 1 and has a pivotal connection 48 at its upper end to the forward end of the driver link 36. The lower end of the follower link 46 is connected to the leg-rest 32 by a connecting link 50 which has a pivotal connection -2 at its rearward end to the lower end of the follower link 46 and a pivotal connection 54 at its forward end to the leg-rest 32.

A driven link 56 is downwardly and forwardly inclined from its upper end to its lower end when the body-supporting unit or means 22 is in the sitting position. The driven link has a pivotal mount 58 on the chair support at a point spaced above and somewhat forwardly of the pivotal mount 38 and has a pivotal connection 60 at its lower end to the follower link 46 intermediate the ends of the The driver link 36, the follower link 46, the driven link 56, and the stationary link provided intermediate the first and second pivotal mounts 38, 58 will be recognized as providing a drag link type of mechanism in which, in response to turning movement imparted to the driver link 36, variable rates of turning will be imparted to the follower link 46 and to the leg-rest 32 which is coupled thereto. Although the linkage does not rotate through 360 as is usually the case with a drag link type of mechanism, it will be appreciated that an appropriate portion of the drag-link movement may be selected to bring about the relatively rapid turning movement of the leg-rest 32 from the stored or retracted position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the leg-rest has turned through approximately 180 in response to rela tively small pivotal or turning movement of the bodysupporting unit 22 about the main pivot 28. The leg-rest mounting linkage or arrangement 34 is completed by the provision of a pair of mounting links 62, 64 which have a pivotal connection 66 at their adjacent ends. The link 62 has a third pivotal mount 68 on the support spaced j below and rearwardly of the first and second pivotal mounts 38, 58, while the link 64 has a pivotal connection 70 at its forward end to the leg-rest 32 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 54. The link 64 crosses over the follower link 46 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 72 thereto.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and urges his or her weight rearwardly, the body-supporting unit 22 turns about the main pivot 23 and causes the pivotal connection 42 to the leg-rest mounting and actuating linkage 34 to move rearwardly relative to the respective stationary pivotal mounts 38, 58. The movement of the pivotal connection 42 imparts a clockwise turning movement to the driver link 36 via the seat connecting link 40 such that the driver link 36 turns in a clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 38. This actuates the four-bar linkage which includes as a stationary link thereof the portion of the support intermediate the pivotal mounts 33, 58, and as the movable links thereof the driver link 36, the portion of the follower link 46 intermediate the pivotal connections 48, 6t} and the driven link 56. Depending upon the link lengths, the orientation of the several links and the location of the pivots, it is possible to impart a rapid turning movement to the follower link 46 which is efieotive to turn the leg-rest 32 through an angle of approximately from the retracted and underslung stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the =leg-supporting surface faces downwardly to the elevated and extended leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 2 where the leg-supporting surface faces upwardly and is approximately oriented relative to the body-supporting unit for the leg-supporting function. The legrest 32 arrives at the requisite leg-supporting position when the lower portion of the back-rest 26 comes into contact with the rear cross brace 18 serving as a stop, such that the limit of reclining movement is established for the chair. When the occupant desires to initiate the reverse sequence of operation, pressure is exerted downwardly on the leg-rest and the body weight is urged somewhat forwardly such that the chair returns to the sitting position, with the corresponding movement of the leg-rest to the underslung and stored position.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

l. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement relative thereto, a leg-rest, and an actuating mechanism for moving said leg-rest from an inverted and retracted underslung position beneath said seat to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat, said actuating mechanism including a driver link having opposite ends, means pivotally mounting said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, a seat connecting link pivotally connected to said driver link intermediate said ends and to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected to said driver link, means including a leg-rest connecting link pivotally connecting said follower link to said leg-rest, a driven link, means pivotally mounting said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount, and means pivotally connecting said driven link to said follower link, said links being arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of said follower link and to turn said leg-rest through an angle of approximately 180 into said extended and elevated leg-supporting position.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement relative thereto, a leg-rest,

and an actuating mechanism for moving said leg-rest from an inverted and retracted 'underslung position beneath said seat to an extended and elevated 1e g-su-pporting position forwardly of said seat, said actuating mechanism including a driver link, means pivotally mounting said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, means including a seat connecting link pivotally connecting said driver link to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected adjacent one end to said driver link, means including a leg-rest connecting link pivotally connecting the other end of said follower link to said leg-rest, a driven link, means pivotally mounting said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting said driven link to said follower link, intermediate the ends thereof, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally mounting one link of said pair on said support at a third pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting the other link of said pair to said legrest, and means connecting one link of said pair to said follower link, said links being arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of said follower link and to turn said leg-rest through an angle of approximately 180 into said extended and elevated leg-supporting position.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement relative thereto, from a sitting position to a reclining position, a leg-rest, and an actuating mechanism for moving said leg-rest from an inverted and retracted underslung position beneath said seat to an extended and elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat, said actuating mechanism including a driver link, downwardly and forwardly inclined from its upper end to its lower end when said body-supporting means is in said sitting position, means pivotally mounting the upper end of said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, means including a seat connecting link pivotally connecting said driver link to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected adjacent one end to the lower end of said driver link, means including a legrest connecting link pivotally connecting the other end of said follower link to said leg-rest, a driven link, downwardly and forwardly inclined from its upper end to its lower end when said body-supporting means is in said sitting position, means pivotally mounting the upper end of said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said driven link to said follower link, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally mounting one link of said pair on said support at a third pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting the other link of said pair to said leg-rest, and means pivotally connecting one link of said pair to said follower link, said links being arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of said follower link and to turn said leg-rest through an angle of approximately 180 into said extended and elevated legsupporting position.

4. A drag link mechanism for actuating the leg-rest of a reclining chair of the type including a support and body-supporting means having a seat and back-rest movably mounted on said support comprising a driver link having ends, means pivotally mounting said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, a seat connecting link pivotally connected to said driver link intermediate said ends and to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected to said driver link, means including a leg-rest connecting link pivotally connecting said follower link to said leg-rest, a driven link, means pivotally mounting said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount, and means pivotally connecting said driven link to said follower link, said links being arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of said follower link and a corresponding fast elevation of said leg'rest.

5. A drag link mechanism for actuating the leg-rest of a reclining chair of the type including a support and bodysupporting means having a seat and back-rest movably mounted on said support comprising a driver link having ends, means pivotally mounting said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, a seat connecting link pivotally connected to said driver link intermediate said ends and to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected to said driver link, means including a leg-rest connecting link pivotally connecting said follower link to said legrest, a driven link, means pivotally mounting said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting said driven link to said follower link, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, means pivotally mounting one link of said pair on said support at a third pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting the other link of said pair to said leg-rest, and means pivotally connecting one link of said pair to said follower link, said links being arranged to bring about a rapid turning movement of said follower link and a corresponding fast elevation of said leg-rest.

6. A drag link mechanism for actuating the leg-rest of a reclining chair of the type including a support and bodysupporting means having a seat and back-rest movably mounted on said support comprising a driver link, means pivotally mounting said driver link on said support at a first pivotal mount, means including a seat connecting link pivotally connecting said driver link to said seat, a follower link pivotally connected at one end to one end of said driver link, means including a leg-rest connecting link pivotally connecting the other end of said follower link to said leg-rest, a driven link, means pivotally mounting said driven link on said support at a second pivotal mount,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,709 Lorenz Dec. 13, 1955 2,871,919 Schliephacke Feb. 3, 1959 2,875,814 Schliephacke Mar. 3, 1959 2,940,509 Fletcher June 14, 1960 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A SEAT AND BACK-REST MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, A LEG-REST, AND AN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID LEG-REST FROM AN INVERTED AND RETRACTED UNDERSLUNG POSITION BENEATH SAID SEAT TO AN EXTENDED AND ELEVATED LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID SEAT, SAID ACTUATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A DRIVER LINK HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DRIVER LINK ON SAID SUPPORT AT A FIRST PIVOTAL MOUNT, A SEAT CONNECTING LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVER LINK INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS AND TO SAID SEAT, A FOLLOWER LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRIVER LINK, MEANS INCLUDING A LEG-REST CONNECTING LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FOLLOWER LINK TO SAID LEG-REST, A DRIVEN LINK, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID DRIVEN LINK ON SAID SUPPORT AT A SECOND PIVOTAL MOUNT, AND MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID DRIVEN LINK TO SAID FOLLOWER LINK, SAID LINKS BEING ARRANGED TO BRING ABOUT A RAPID TURNING MOVEMENT OF SAID FOLLOWER LINK AND TO TURN SAID LEG-REST THROUGH AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 180* INTO SAID EXTENDED AND ELEVATED LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION. 